'Writer's Hustle' Column: Traditions above all

Traditions are some of the most important parts of life. They are what hold us together, especially when emotions are running high because Aunt Julie burned the turkey and Grandpa Joseph starts ranting about how things aren’t like the “good ole’ days,” but they can often be what tears us apart.

You see, as I just implied this is often the case with traditions, as they generally involve national holidays, large celebrations, plane tickets, thrown-together recipes, family drama and much hullabaloo. But ask almost anyone if they care about their own family traditions, about the habits and fun activities that their personal family carries on year after year, and the answer will be a positive one more often than not.

In fact, the introduction of the word into conversation often is followed by a string of superlative descriptions, meaningful memories and significant stories. And food. People love to talk about food.

As you well know, the holidays are coming up (No, I am not going to get “politically correct” and use some bizarre term like “winter festivities”), and that means many things. It means football Sundays will only continue even more. Cookies will become the primary form of economic exchange in American households and the stress levels of people hunting for those perfect gifts, or perhaps meal or travel plans, for their loved ones will get closer and closer to reality.

For me, I’ve never been very enthralled by all the modern, shopertunistic falderal that comes around “Turkeytime” and leaves at the New Year. I’ve never led the pack to go get the best items at Wal-Mart when it first opens on Black Friday. I’ve never trampled someone else to get that one last remaining special toy that all the other stores seem to have run out of. And, I do not think I’ve ever even sat upon Jolly Old St. Nick’s lap as a child.

Quite frankly, I’ve never quite understood the commercial appeal for the holidays. For the suppliers, I understand it. It must be like shooting fish in a large, Starbucks-filled, pumpkin-scented barrel. But for the consumers? What’s the big appeal?

As a child, I was no chump. I knew that the holidays were always filled with gifts from family members and close friends. And did I love swimming through piles upon piles of wrapping paper after I had opened all of my gifts? Of course! What kid wouldn’t?

But, I also distinctly remember looking back at the other things that I did with my parents and friends that didn’t involve presents, trees or wrapping paper. And the best part of this story is that those are the memories that I honestly enjoyed so much more.

I couldn’t tell you what I got on Christmas morning when I was 12. But I could say that I had an amazing afternoon a few days before, while I made the shortbread cookies and drizzled icing all over them (as well as the table, floor, curtains and the dog). I could also tell you that I had invited my friends Michael and Chris over and that Chris definitely ate most of the cookies.

If we now skip just a few more years forward, this would make me about 15, and I remember an equally fun day. This day was not filled with dough rolling and flour spreading, but rather popcorn crunching and movie watching. In fact, my mother and I, along with my aunt and a few other ruffians, bounced around town and took in as many movies at as many different theaters as we could. And, by the end of the day, we probably tallied as many as five movies and 25 ticket stubs.

The point of the matter is simple. Even as a child, the presents and gifts were never what I remembered most about the holidays. It wasn’t the commercial flair that inspired my holiday spirit.

Rather, it was spending time with my friends and family. It was doing very simple, fun and easy things with the people whose company I enjoyed most. It wasn’t going about wrapping up an extra mile worth of gifts, but instead going the extra mile to pass the day with people who meant, and still mean, the most to me.

So, when everyone’s holiday traditions come into play, remember this: gifts will be generally forgotten, but traditions, memories and spending time with loved ones will last forever. For this holiday season, no matter creed or faith, try to keep it simple. I’m sure it will be one of your favorite holiday seasons yet.

Ben Hulac, ‘13, is a journalism and political science major. He is a columnist for The Brown and White. His column, "Writer's Hustle," will appear regularly.